2016 Mobility Management Best Picks

In 2011, Mobility Management, the industry publication written exclusively for clinicians and Assistive Technology Professionals (ATPs) specializing in seating & wheeled mobility, asked readers for their “go-to” complex rehab technology solutions. Their answers became the first-ever collection of Best Picks.

More than five years later, the Best Picks project has become an annual event. Mobility Management’s July 2016 issue published the sixth yearly list of Best Picks, a total of 27 products chosen by ATPs and clinicians.

Karen Cavallo, Mobility Management’s publisher, lauded this year’s Best Picks: “Congratulations to the 2016 Best Picks winners. Their products and innovations show that complex rehab is never short of bright ideas and a tireless desire to create new technologies to improve quality of life.

Best Picks are nominated solely by ATPs and seating & mobility clinicians. Mobility Management Editor Laurie Watanabe said of the program, “We do not print a ballot; ATPs and clinicians do not select their Best Picks from a list of choices. Instead, we ask a simple question: What seating & mobility products have impressed you in the last 12 months?”

Best Pick winners for 2016 include the following seating and wheeled mobility products. Mobility Management’s 2017 Best Pick program kicks off in the spring.

This chair’s Tilt-Assist adjustment keeps caregivers as well as clients in mind. It was designed to make tilting easier by reducing the effort required to tilt a Solara with its user seated. Three settings (front, middle, rear) allow the Tilt-Assist system to accommodate uneven weight distribution.

A fully welded steel frame makes Solara strong and reliable, while color-coded, rust-resistant, zinc-plated hardware make adjustments a breeze (silver hardware indicates an adjustment point; black bolts are static). Options include Low-Shear Recline, a DeGage dynamic rocker back to accommodate involuntary movements, and foot-operated wheel locks. This combination of features makes the Solara 3G Tilt-in-Space wheelchair able to meet the needs of wheelchair users today while also adjusting as their situations change. For more information, contact Invacare.com

MAX Mobility’s SmartDrive MX2

More than just a power-assist system, the SmartDrive MX2 is revolutionary in its design and functionality, as well as the resulting freedom, power and performance it can provide to active manual wheelchair users who have plenty of places to go.

The convenient single-unit design of the SmartDrive MX2 has a built-in rechargeable battery pack. The MX2 is easy to learn and intuitive to use, thanks to an intelligent wrist control that senses its user’s movements and knows when the wheelchair user is ready to get moving or preparing to stop.

The MX2’s dynamic drive system cruises up hills and over thick carpet to make all kinds of environments and distances more wheelchair user friendly. At the same time, the innovative design offers great flexibility: It moves with its user so everyday acts such as wheelies and handling curbs remain as easy as ever to perform.

An optional mounting bar now makes the MX2 compatible with folding manual wheelchairs, and regardless of wheelchair frame type, the SmartDrive MX2 is so lightweight, consumers won’t even notice it’s come along for the ride. But they will absolutely notice the functional change in performance and the positive impact it has on their rolling efficiency and propulsion across the many types of terrain they encounter every day. For more information, contact Max-mobility.com

Pride Mobility Products’ Jazzy Air

Described as ushering in a new era in power mobility — which Pride Mobility Products refers to as “social mobility” — the Jazzy Air enables users to elevate up to 10 inches in height in just 16 seconds. This brings Jazzy Air’s user to a position equal to standing height for better access to the environment and greater inclusion in conversations and other social situations.

While elevated, Jazzy Air users can drive up to 3.5 mph with Enhanced Stability Technology to keep up with companions at walking speed. Active-Trac Suspension provides maximum comfort and performance whether Jazzy Air is elevated or not.

Jazzy Air is available in a range of sizes — 16x16-18”, 18x18-20”, and 20x20-22” — with a 300-lb. weight capacity and an angle-adjustable footplate with three height adjustments. Armrests adjust in angle, height and depth. Users can elevate and lower their seat heights while driving by using the “Air” button or the PG VR2 joystick drive controller. Jazzy Air’s seat is depth adjustable and contoured, with a high back sport seat that reclines.

Jazzy Air’s line of accessories includes consumer favorites: a rear basket, a weather cover and a cup holder. The Jazzy Air is also compatible with Pride Mobility automotive lifts (including the Backpacker Plus, Outlander Full Platform, Backpacker AVP and Outlander LP) to make Jazzy Air easy to take on the road. For more information, contact Pridemobility.com or Jazzyair.com.

Quantum Rehab’s Q6 Edge 2.0 with iLevel

The Q6 Edge 2.0’s signature ability is iLevel, the adjustable seat height system that offers 10 inches of seat elevation in just 16 seconds and enables its user to drive the power wheelchair at walking speed (up to 3.5 mph) while elevated.

But this very versatile power wheelchair is also fully rehab ready — meaning the Q6 Edge 2.0 also accepts a complete range of seating and electronics options to accommodate the varying and unique complex positioning needs that rehab clients have. And iLevel’s Extra Stability Technology provides maximum safety for transfers, reaching and many other functional activities of daily living, therefore supporting the many tasks that Q6 Edge 2.0 power chair consumers want to accomplish.

The Q6 Edge 2.0 comes standard with 6-mph high-speed motors. It’s available with Accu-Trac Advanced Tracking Technology, and options include an LED full lighting package, LED fender lights and 8-inch casters.The Q6 Edge 2.0 brings together advanced performance and precise control for responsive handling for a better ride.

Seating sizes for the Q6 Edge 2.0 with iLevel seat elevation start at 12x12”, and the Q6 Edge 2.0 power chair is available in 12 color options for high performance with personalized style and bold, eye-catching aesthetics. For more information, contact Quantumrehab.com or iLevel.rehab

Ride Designs’ Java Cushion

The Java cushion is designed to meet multiple complex needs and goals, including improving sitting stability for improved functional performance and improving skin outcomes by lowering tissue distortion and long-term skin risk.

Java does this by redistributing the forces of pressure and shear away from high-risk areas while also selectively applying the forces to areas of the body that are more tolerant. The result: Potentially lower pressures and as a result, less deep tissue distortion to help decrease deep tissue injury and the potential for severe pressure injuries (stages III and IV). In addition, Java’s design and cover materials help keep skin cool and dry, thus decreasing the heat and moisture that can lead to superficial (stage I/II) pressure injuries.

This enhanced sitting performance requires no regular fit-essential maintenance, and if users experience changes in their general conditions, Java can usually be adjusted via Ride CAM wedges to restore original effectiveness. And it’s easier than ever to fit the Java cushion, which is now available in sizes 14x14” to 20x20”, with virtually any width and depth size variation available at no extra charge. The Java is approved for HCPCS code E2624 and has a two-year product warranty. Ask Ride Designs about recently published university-level research and results regarding the Java’s better pressure management and sitting stability versus air-flotation cushions. For more information, contact Ridedesigns.com